Voltaic battery



A. P.-W. PARTZ.

VOLTAIC BATTERY.

(No Model.)

No. 252,619.A

` Patented Jem-24, 1882.

gru T IINTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

AUGUST F. W. PARTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VOLTAIC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofw Letters Patent No. .252,619, dated January 24:, 1882.'

Application led N ovembcr i4, 158i. (No model.) Patented in France April 22, i880, and May 28, 1880.

To all whom tt may concern:

Beit known that LAUGUST F. W. Paarz, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Voltaic Batteries, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specitcation. y

This invention relates to voltaic batteries with cathodes of carbon; and it consists, first, in the employment, as electrolyte,ofacompound aqueous solution of chloride ofzinc and bichromate ot" ammonia, in combination with an anode ot' zinc and a cathode of carbon, second, in a cathode of carbon slotted by saw-cuts or otherwise, so as to form a row or cluster of connected bars, for the double purpose of increasing its surface and of securing a free communication of the exciting-liquid.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is averlical section, and Fig. 2 a transverse demisection, ofaone-liquid voltaic element embodying the mechanical part ot' my invention.

In a glass jar, h, stands a'hollow cylinderof carbon, 7c, slotted lengthwise, so as to represent a circular row ot' bars connected at their upper ends, Where a metallic ring, r, bearing a binding-screw, s, is fitted round the cylinder. 'lhe bars may be left connected also attheir lower ends, in which case the slotting is conveniently done by means of a circular saw or a rapidly-rotatin g toothless iron disk. Instead of being cut, the carbons may also be molded so as to contain a series of slots. Within the cylinder 7c is suspended a bar of zinc, a, by being screwed over the stem of a bindingscrew, s', which vstem extends through a circular block of varnished wood or ebonite, e, provided with a flange that rests on the cylinder la. The zinc bar should be amalgamated with mercury, and in order to maintain its amalgamation, especially in elements of large dimensions, I let it dip in mercury lcontained in a small glass cup, c, placed on the bottom ofthe jar h. The cylinder 7tmay, instead ot being slotted, be perforated with holes, though this involves more labor and aii'ordsno advantage.

The new electrolyte which I employ is prepared by dissolving about fifteen parts of chloride of zinc and an equal quantity of 'bichromate ofammonia in one hundred parts of water. An elementcontainingsucha solution and made as abovedescribed has an initial electro-motive force of 1.65'volts, anda resistance ol1.6 ohms. While the circuit remains open the zinc is not acted upon by the liquid. When it is closed au olive-green salt (chrom oxychloride of zinc) forms upon the anode, from which it gradually peels off, falling down as a powder. The formation of this salt has, because ofits slight atlhereuce to the zinc, no noticeable effect upon the electric current; but as it represents the negative electrolytic product in a solid state, while the positive (hydrogen and ammonia) escapes as gas, the liquid remains qualitatively unchanged, and it is therefore necessary only to supply from time to time what it has lost in quantity and to renew the zinc when itis cousumed tokeep a battery of this kind for an indefinite period in serviceable condition. The liquid has no tendency to produce efdorescence.

Although I deem the element shown in the drawingspeculiarlywelladaptedi'oraone-liquid battery, I do not restrict myselfwith regard to the employmentofa compound solution ofchloride of zinc and bichromate ofammonia to any particular form of volt-aie apparatus, provided that the electrodes consist of zinc and carbon. Nor do I restrict myself with regard to the use of slotted cathodes of carbon to any special shape of them or to any special kind of batteries,

since their shape may be varied so as to accord With that of the elements for which they are intended, and they may be employed with equal advantagein double-cell as in singlecell batteries.

For the new binding-screw shown in the drawings I intend to make a special application for a patent.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in a voltaic battery, ofa compound solution ot chloride of zinc and bichromate of ammonia with an anode of zin and a cathode of carbon.

2. A cathodeof carbon slotted so as to forni a row or cluster of connectedbars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

AUGUST F. W. PAR'IZ.

Witnesses:

L. GENs, C. BAILLY. 

